Jury pool information for Dimora trial

With the trial being held in Akron in Summit County instead of Cleveland, the candidates for the jury pool will be drawn from that area, not from the Cleveland area.

Attorneys for Jimmy Dimora tried to have his trial moved out of Northeast Ohio, citing intensive media scrutiny and a "circus-like atmosphere" that would deny their client a fair trial by people who have not been subjected to intense pre-trial publicity.

U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi denied that request and said in her ruling that a large amount of resources has already been expended to compile an unusually large pool of jurors.

The case is being heard in U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio. That district has four courthouse locations -- Cleveland, Akron, Toledo and Youngstown.

Federal juries in Akron are usually selected from a pool that does not include Cuyahoga County residents.

Back in October, U.S. District Court in Akron mailed out about 700 questionnaires to potential jurors to screen out those who could not commit to serve on what is expected to be a three-month trial, starting on Jan. 4.

After reviewing the replies, about 160 jurors were called in November to the John F. Seiberling Federal Building & Courthouse in Akron to fill out a second, more-detailed questionnaire to see if they were biased or had been influenced by any pretrial publicity.

A jury of 12 is usually seated in a federal case involving serious felony charges. Four or six alternates are also selected.

Jury selection in the Dimora case is expected to start on Jan. 4 and last for about two weeks or more.